Erika Walker
In case you missed it, January 22, 2015 was a big day for the issue of abortion for three reasons.
First, on this the 42nd Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case that legalized abortions in the United States, The House of Representative considered a bill that would ban all future taxpayer funding of abortions (H.R. 7).
Second, President Obama issued this celebratory statement:
“Forty-two years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Roe v. Wade, a decision that protects a woman’s freedom to make her own choices about her body and her health, and reaffirms a fundamental American value: that government should not intrude in our most private and personal family matters.
“I am deeply committed to protecting this core constitutional right, and I believe that efforts like H.R. 7, the bill the House considered today, would intrude on women’s reproductive freedom and access to health care and unnecessarily restrict the private insurance choices that consumers have today. The federal government should not be injecting itself into decisions best made between women, their families, and their doctors. I am also deeply committed to continuing our work to reduce unintended pregnancies, support maternal and child health, promote adoptions, and minimize the need for abortion.
“Today, as we reflect on this critical moment in our history, may we all rededicate ourselves to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons.”
It’s clear that President Obama is very strong supporter of abortion. He even goes so far as to call it a “core constitutional right” one that he is “deeply committed to protecting” which gives us Pro-lifers little hope of H.R. 7 becoming a law even if it does pass the House and the Senate. (Update: H.R. 7 passed the House on January 28th.)
However, not all hope is lost. Which brings me to my third reason this was a big day. On this day, more than 500,000 Pro-Life advocates gathered at the National Mall for the 42nd annual March for Life. The turnout was one of the biggest in history, with well over half of the marchers under the age of 30. This year’s march was all about youth activism with many holding signs that read “I Am the Pro-Life Generation”. Indeed the Pro-life movement is gaining energy and ground. Many in this younger generation recognize the value of a life, see abortion for what it truly is, and are willing to fight against it.
Though legislation that favors life will continue to be petitioned, and in many cases, shut down, I have hope in our future because one day, this generation will be our nation’s leaders. And maybe then we can finally right the wrongs of our fathers and overturn Roe v. Wade.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/22/roe-v-wade-anniversary-march/22157931/?AID=10709313&PID=4003003&SID=i5imkgt4gq00gfu000dth